On Saturday, March 3, 2001 at about 9 am I pulled into the mobil gas station in cascades shopping center, sterling, va to refuel. My tank was on "E". I turned off the vehicle, popped the gas cap door open from inside the vehicle, exited the car and walked around the rear of the vehicle to refuel. I began to turn the gas cap with my right hand. As I did so, I heard a "hissing" sound and then flames immediately shot out of the tank. The bright orange flames burned steadily aproximately 18 inches from the vehicle fuel neck. People at the station began to run away from the vehicle. I immediately removed my 18 month old daughter from the vehicle and ran away with her in my arms. A bystander put the fire out with a nearby extinguisher. The fire department arrived on the scene after the fire was out. They pronounced the fire out and my vehicle was towed to the Isuzu dealership for inspection. I have several witnesses who said they have not seen anything like this before. This could be a possible static fire.

- Potomac Falls, VA, USA